Written by For our prompt of “Book” today, I made a quick little doodle of a little mouse reading one. Actually, I’ve been rereading books from my childhood recently and that’s been super fun. Mostly my absolute favorite of the Paddington books, but some others as well. When I was a child, I would always have a book that I was reading. I loved traveling to the places that the authors would create. And, I loved it most when the characters included animals. I’ve always adored animals, but they’re also more universal than human characters. It was easier to relate and find a character that was a bit more like me. So today, I still love imagining all sorts of adventures for the animals I see. And as the holiday season arrives, my inner child is ready to enjoy every single little moment and have a bit of fun!
Philippe and I had a lovely Thanksgiving dinner last night and today, we’ve just been relaxing and doing fun things. I wanted to play a new mystery and puzzle game that I have for my Switch, that is incredibly fun called Layton’s Mystery Journey: Katrielle and the Millionaires’ Conspiracy. I’m quite certain it’s meant for tween girls, but I’ve no trouble at all admitting that I adore it. Actually, it’s filled with all sorts of the nerdy word and spatial puzzles that I adored as a child. It actually took me a bit of time to get my brain working like a child so that I could figure them out properly. I’ve still more game to go, so I’ll be heading back to play it shortly. I’m determined to take a little break and enjoy this long weekend properly. So, my sketches will be fast and fun while I make time for all of the other little things I intend to do in my day.
Tonight, we’ll be hanging our Christmas decorations which is always a wonderful time. Normally, we would have put up our tree today, but thankfully we did that last week. I love rediscovering all of our ornaments each year. We have so darn many that it’s impossible to remember all of them. And each year we buy a few more on sale after Christmas. Our tree is a bit larger this year, but every year we have to make a decision about which ones will get displayed and which will go back in the bin. The ones that have the strongest memory and story attached always win. Stories create such incredible emotions. And as I read the books that I adored as a child, and play games meant for kids, I’m perfectly preparing for the season ahead. It’s time to let my inner child take full control as he enjoys the magic of the season, and spends some time with his nose in a book.
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Charlie, nose in a book? My immediate thought was to draw an open book with a bulbous nose coming out of it. Enjoy your day! My tree is going up tonight too, my progeny picked one up for me this afternoon along with some deco so I am blessed. Glad you enjoyed your dinner!
Thanks so much, Linda! 😃💕 Yay that your tree is going up! It’s officially the holiday season!
Hi, Linda! Tripas are the intestines. They call it tripe here in English, but it’s tripas in Spanish. I never really questioned if tripe was the same thing as tripas since we don’t call it that. We eat and buy tripas. Tripe is the word that non-Spanish speakers call it here. They are delicious, though, whatever the name! haha haha 😂😂
I so loved books when I was young. There was never any question when I was “missing” as to where I was. I was lying on my bed reading. I remember one summer I got a copy of Chesapeake by James Michener and I would read a chapter or two, then set it aside and read something else because I wanted the Michener book to last forever! I hope that you are having fun right now decorating your tree!
Thanks so much, Lisa! 😃💕 Aww those are the best books ever… the kind you don’t ever want to end!
I like reading about your Christmas traditions! It used to take me 4 days to do it all when our kids were growing up in our large home. Our present, smaller home is single-level, so, no more garlands and swags on a staircase. I’m leaning toward a Southwest theme, as that’s where we live, with luminarias to represent Light to lead us out of the past few years and, of course, the pandemic. Here’s to a wonderful, hope-filled holiday!
Thanks, Kathy! 😃💕 Here’s to a very hopeful and wonderful holiday! Yeah, we’ve paired down a touch on decorations as it really needs to happen in the span of a day or we both get too distracted! Yours sound lovely!
Wonderful Charlie! Enjoy decorating your tree tonight. We did have a nice family zoom call last night so tonight is a quiet one. I enjoyed your video that you did for Artwork Creative Productivity. I watched it this afternoon.
Thanks so much, Karen! 😃💕 Glad you enjoyed the video! And that your call was nice… a quiet night sounds just perfect!
As part of speech therapy for my cleft palette, I was taught to read when I was three. I came from a family of readers anyway so this just meant I got an early start. My first grade teacher didn’t believe me when I told her I was reading my mother’s Perry Mason and Louis Lamour books until I brought them in and read them for her. She didn’t believe me about the lion we had either – poor teacher. I think I broke her. Anyway, this gives me a really wide range of books I can read and be transported back to a younger age. I’m so fortunate!
Hi, Sandra! I couldn’t help, but ask: Your family owned a lion? A real lion? Wow. We only had dogs, cats, goldfish, and 🐔🐔🐔 chickens. haha haha 😂 What a lovely childhood pet!
Yes. My father worked at the local zoo. Back then, they didn’t have any kind of nursery, and if the mother rejected a baby, one of the workers would take it home. We had several lions and tigers while I was growing up. Usually, just until they were off the bottle, but we kept a couple for about six months.
You were quite fortunate! 😃💕 And yeah, I bet you confused the heck out that teacher! hehe That’s such a great story!
Such a sweet painting, Charlie! 💜 So cute! You know, you make me want to dig up my teenage books. I just don’t know exactly where they are. They’re with my Swatch watches also. haha haha Charlie, I LOVE Christmas ornaments! You are a man after my own heart: after-Christmas sales are my FAVORITE! I love to shop after-Christmas!! Dillard’s Department Store used to sell the most beautiful ornaments. I CAN’T WAIT TO BE IN MY OWN HOUSE AND DECORATE LIKE CRAZY! Yippeeee! I love to decorate my tree with all sorts of different ornaments. I love unique and different ones. There was a Christian book store here that had a clearance store next door. The store sold Christmas ornaments and decorations year round so their clearance store was chock full of clearance priced ornaments. I mean, like 50 cent ornaments! The most I ever paid was $1.25 for an ornament. So, I have ornaments galore. 😋😋😋 They just had cute and unique ornaments that I loved. 💜
Charlie, the solution for too many ornaments is another tree. I plan on having more than one tree in my house. I bought a 9 foot tree at Sam’s Club for $99 bucks. I have it stored away in the garage just waiting. I CAN’T WAIT TO BE IN MY OWN HOUSE!! I can’t wait to unwrap and see all my goodies that I stored away with so much hope and promise. I CAN’T WAIT!!! So excited! 🎉🎉🎉🎉
Hello Marisela,
How are you? Thanks so much for reaching out yesterday. 🙂 I’d tried leaving a Thanksgiving message for you too but the page kept getting stuck. 🙁 But I can still wish you a Happy Thanksgiving. And wish you your very own dream home very very soon! I’m gonna modify my wish to “Am meeting my friend Marisela in her own new dream home very soon”. Fingers crossed!
Love,
Mugdha
Thanks so much, Marisela! 😃💕 Yay for ornaments galore! I love that! Yeah, we’ve built up quite a collection from those sale bins! lol Yeah, we have a real tree, large one, and one small artificial tree. I wanted a third one, but we opted for a couple white birch trees that light up… lots lovely, but can’t put ornaments on them! hehe
I love this doodle, Charlie. I didn’t read many novels at home as a child but loved comic annuals.
Thanks so much, Gary! 😃💕 Aww I loved comics as well!
A book! As a matter of fact I’m waiting for a book, I believe it has a little towhead on the cover, dragging a book bag😄 I love my childhood books too, my auntie sent me and yes, ‘Paddington at Large’ was one of my faves, along with that other bear, and Aesop’s fables. I heard your interview on Friday-kudos Charlie!-and you should know a couple of hard facts about what you “Do”. First, what you are “DO”ing matters. To children who need art, to adults who need art. It was a rough year, just speaking for myself, Doodlewash gave me a reason to focus on joy and beauty, to hear how others were making a way through. You have given us a community. Second, you ARE a story teller, in words and pictures. You tell universal truths about joy and wonder through the eyes of a child, that is your path. You are “DO”ing this! And we have the joy and privilege to see and hear your journey. All the periphery of business and stuff will get done, you are DOing you, and thank God, that teaches us something priceless in it’s own way!
Aww thanks so much, Nellie! 😃💕 Yeah, I think whatever we DO we should do what makes us personally the happiest! And I’m so happy that Doodlewash was there to help you get through this crazy year. Thank goodness for art and community!
NELLIE NELLIE: Hi, Nellie! I left you a message a couple of days ago. Nothing important. You made me laugh when you were worried about giving your neighbors seizures with your Christmas lights. haha haha haha 😂😂😂 That was so funny. You would be like Clark Griswold from National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. haha haha haha He put so many lights on his house that his neighbors were blinded by them. Now that is Christmas spirit! 😂😂😂😂
Wonderful, Charlie!! Love the mouse and the book illustrations!!!
Thanks so much, Mary! 😃💕 Glad you enjoyed this one!
This is so sweet! The added book illustrations takes it over the top!
Aww thanks so much, Lori! 😃💕 Those were fun to do!
Hello Charlie,
That Doodlewash needs to be on a wall in every library or even classroom! That will really inspire kids to read. Am glad you still enjoy the books of your childhood. Anytime I’ve had to give books away owing to shortage of space, it’s always been novels and recent books. Somehow nothing and no one can persuade me to give my childhood books away. My friends thought it strange but somehow I didnt really take them seriously. I hope you enjoy putting up the decorations.. and that you have a wonderful weekend. 🙂
Love,
Mugdha
Aww thanks so much, Mugdha! 😃💕 I’m so happy to know you’ve held onto your childhood books! They’re always the most precious! And hope you’re having a fabulous weekend as well!
Hi, MUGDHA! Aww, you are always so sweet! Your message made me smile and made me happy! As we say, ” Mi casa es su casa.” My home is your home! 💜 Once the world opens up again, you can come visit me anytime. Christmas is lovely here. The city puts lights on the trees along the River Walk. Now, April is Fiesta Week. Fiesta Week is when we go full on party mode! The entire city parties! There are parades including on the river, social events everywhere, food, music, and the world’s only nighttime parade. They decorate the city and streets. There are lots of beautifully decorated floats. People wear big party hats and colorful clothing. We have NIOSA, which is Night in Old San Antonio. Every country that was part of the founding of Texas is celebrated with food, drink, and music. They, of course, forget that Texas belonged to and was part of Mexico. haha haha 😂😂 We have a large Indian community here, Mugdha. They party with us, too. 😋😋😋 This year, Fiesta Week was cancelled and that was a very sad moment for us, but it only means a BIGGER Fiesta next year! Woo-hoo! Party Central! 🎉🎉🎉🎉
Thank you for the Thanksgiving wishes. I hope you have a blessed and bright holiday season with your family, Mugdha! 💜
I adored books, still do. Very it to the Twilight Saga. Reading Midnight Sun, the story from the male leads perspective. Intense and gripping does not cover it.
That’s awesome! Books are such a wonderful thing indeed! 😃💕
I am slowly working on a Vampire story.
They have Always fascinated me. I am reading Midnight Sun the story from Edward Cullen’s side. Part of the Twilight Saga.
Sort of research. Interesting to see it from sides of the story.
Alice both in Wonderland and through the looking glass, the Narnia stories. Robert the Bruce, Heidi, secret Garden, Little women. All the classics.
Excellent list! All wonderful! 🙂
Such a literary journey.
I love your stories and I used to be such a reader..I really need to do that again..but like yourself I do enjoy some of the games on my IPad maybe a bit too much lol I hope we can get our decorations up soon too…sounds lovely!!!
And btw the painting was great too Lol
Thanks, Priscilla! 😃💕 hehe… yeah, I always have to remind myself to put the games down and read!
This is nice 😊👍
Thanks so much! 😃💕
You are amazing, I really appreciate you work. Lovely Doodle… <3
Aww thanks so much!! 😃💕